Athletic Shorts with Liner

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are shorts having a pelvic portion and two leg portions, wherein each leg portion of the shorts has an internally disposed inner layer. The inner layer is a tubular layer comprising an upper portion adapted for loosely surrounding a human leg, and a band for snugly receiving a human leg.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/500,119, filed Aug. 21, 2014 by Kyle Matthew Gust. The disclosure of the priority application and drawings fully disclose the utility of the article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of the shorts showing the shorts in use during a leg-elevating exercise, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear left, bottom perspective view of the shorts having a loose inner layer with a band at the lower portion of the inner layer, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the shorts as viewed from underneath, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the shorts, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5A is an environmental view of the shorts, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5B is an environmental view of the shorts, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a front elevation cross-section view of the shorts where front of the leg portion of the shorts has been removed to show a loose inner layer with a band at the lower portion of the inner layer, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a back elevation cross-section view of the shorts where the back of the leg portion of the shorts has been removed to show a loose inner layer with a band at the lower portion of the inner layer, in accordance with an embodiment.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are shorts offering privacy during human movement, such as during exercises involving raising the legs. The shorts have a pelvic portion and two leg portions, wherein each leg portion of the shorts has an internally disposed inner layer. The inner layer is a tubular layer comprising an upper portion and a band. The upper portion is adapted to loosely surround a human leg. The band is connected to along a bottom edge of the upper portion and is adapted to snugly receive a human leg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this disclosure, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments, and in the invention generally.

The term “comprises” is used to mean that other features, components, steps, etc. are optionally present.

The terms “shorts” and “athletic shorts” means an outer garment worn over the lower body, typically but not exclusively loose-fitting, which may include board shorts, athletic shorts for all sports, active wear shorts and pants. The embodiment shown is a pair of loose, comfortable athletic shorts.

This invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

Embodiments of the invention are depicted in FIGS. 1-7. FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the shorts taken from the axis shown in FIG. 3. As shown, embodiments involve the shorts 101 show a standard pair of shorts having a pelvic portion 111 for receiving a human lower torso and two leg portions 109. Each leg portion 109 of the shorts has an internally disposed inner layer (also referred to herein as the “leg liner”). The leg liner has two main portions: an upper portion 105 and a band 103. The upper portion 105 is a tubular cloth member constructed so as to receive a human leg and surround the leg with a loose, comfortable fit. The upper portion 105 may be formed from a lightweight, breathable material such as polyester mesh. The bottom edge of the upper portion 105 is connected to a band 103, as shown in the Figures. This band is also adapted to receive a human leg, however it is constructed for a snug, nonslip fit around the leg. The band 103 is also a tubular member and may be an elastomeric band, covered with fabric, for fitting snugly against the leg such that the band does not slip down a user's leg when the leg is elevated. The band 103 may vary in width based on the wearer's comfort level, but generally may be between 0.5 inches to 3 inches in width. Preferably, the band is wide enough to fit snugly against the leg and to secure the leg liner to the leg comfortably.

The leg liner may be secured to the shorts 101 removably or fixedly. In the embodiment shown, the leg liner is attached to an internal surface of the leg portion at a location corresponding to the upper thigh. This is done by attaching, removably or fixedly, an upper perimeter 106 of the upper portion 105 into an internal surface of the shorts' leg portion at a location corresponding to the upper thigh, leaving the remainder of the upper portion and band to fall freely inside the shorts' leg portions. In this manner, the leg portion of the shorts 101 have two layers—a leg portion, which may be legs of a standard pair of shorts, and inner layer (the leg liner) internal to the leg portion and in the position corresponding to the legs. The pelvic portion of the shorts does not have a separate inner layer like the leg portion does.

FIGS. 1, 5A and 5B show environmental views of the shorts which illustrate the degree of independent movement and separation of the leg portion and the leg liner. The configuration shown permits the shorts to be worn during normal exercise but still provide adequate personal coverage. FIG. 1 shows a user wearing the shorts during an abdominal crunch exercise, where the leg is elevated. During these types of exercises, the leg portion of the shorts falls, but the leg liner remains in place on the leg due to the snug fit of the band around the user's leg. In this way, the user's leg remains covered. Other exercises where the shorts provide this benefit include leg presses, rowing machines, and any other exercise where the leg is lifted at an angle greater than 90 degrees with respect to a ground surface. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the shorts using dashed lines to depict the leg liner underneath and not visible when word. FIGS. 2 and 4 show that the shorts appear visually as standard shorts from the outside.

Other benefits to the embodiments shown are an increased level of comfort of the shorts, while still providing a privacy benefit. Pants or shorts with linings have been limited to pants or shorts with inner briefs or inner compression shorts. Compression shorts are used commonly by men because of the personal support they offer in sporting activities, but are not comfortable for long term wear. Because the shorts disclosed have a loose leg liner internal to the leg portion, they are suitable not only for athletic wear, but also normal daily wear. Rather than having to change shorts after a workout, the user may be able to run errands wearing what appears from the outside to be standard shorts.

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments disclosed in the examples, which are intended as illustrations of a few aspects of the invention, and any embodiments that are functionally equivalent are within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art and are intended to fall within the scope of the disclosure. For instance, in embodiments where the leg liner is removable, the leg liner may be secured to the shorts via snaps or Velcro located at the upper perimeter 107 of the upper portion 105 of the leg liner. Varying materials may be used for the shorts, such as polyester, cotton, rayon, or mixed blends, including varying types of elastomeric materials used in the band. 

1. Shorts having a pelvic portion adapted to receive a human lower torso and two leg portions adapted to receive human legs, wherein each leg portion of the shorts has an internally disposed inner layer wherein the inner layer is tubular and comprises an upper portion adapted for loosely surrounding a human leg, and a band connected along a bottom edge of the upper portion adapted to snugly receive a human leg.
 2. The shorts of claim 1, wherein the inner layer engages with an internal surface of the leg portion at a location corresponding to the upper thigh.
 3. The shorts of claim 2, wherein an upper perimeter of the upper portion is sewn to the internal surface of the leg portion.
 4. The shorts of claim 2, wherein the inner layer engages removably to the internal surface of the leg portion.
 5. The shorts of claim 4, wherein the inner layer is attachable to the internal surface of the leg portion with snaps.
 6. The shorts of claim 4, wherein the inner layer is attachable to the internal surface of the leg portion with Velcro™
 7. The shorts of claim 1, wherein the band further comprises an elastomeric material and the upper portion further comprises a lightweight, breathable fabric. 